God is a Pragmatist!

These days I feel like I spend most of my time coming to terms with a discrepancy between a vision and a reality. Even in the most mundane daily tasks an ideal situation seems to have to do battle with the real possibilities. Now I'm a hopeful(!) optimist / idealist / romantic so believe me this is tough to take; I work on the basis that there is always a 'third way', a wonderful God inspired solution which actually meets the needs of all involved and enables the kingdom to be extended even through the seemingly meaningless tasks of 'life admin'.

The idealist assumes that their ideal is 'best' and that where it may differ, reality is a poor compromise; the cynic on the other hand, assumes that even reality is a thinly disguised ulterior motive. Both perspectives can be found in the wierd and wonderful world of biblical studies, and we need to honestly recognise that both can at times be found in us as we seek to hear God through his written word. It seems that as you gain more active control over your life, as you become more involved in the implementation of God's will you begin to realise that neither a human sense of idealism or cynicism apply, there's a new ideal (see previous post!) a different goal and a bizarrely unfolding method. Maybe this was the experience of the biblical writers who were working out their salvation with the Holy Spirit and I'm sure a fair amount of fear and trembling, whilst writing it down every step of the way.

God doesn't deal in theories or fantasies; he is not preoccupied by suspicion of the behaviour of humankind, he is not away with the fairies! He is confidently and unashamedly working out his sovereign plans for the salvation of the cosmos, including us! I think God is a pragmatist; if he were a channel 4 show I think he could be described as 'gritty'! God takes us as we are and gets stuck in; considering the vast sinful gulf between him and us this is shocking, and beautiful. God is a pragmatist, not because the 'ideal' is out of his reach but because this way more fully demonstrates his incredible goodness and grace.